"There have been many great examples of civil disobedience in our history. Those who have chosen to commit these acts have changed the fabric of our society, and have often faced outrage, imprisonment and violence in the process."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020607S.shtml

If you have to beg “permission’ to do something that doesn’t harm anybody or anything, guess what? You’re either a child or a slave.

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

There is a lot in this country in which we must ask the government for permission. Even our rights are subject to permission (making them in all practical senses privileges and not rights). If you want to assemble in public, you need a permit, you want a gun...need a permit. Everything is regulated and the freedom enjoyed by the founders has been destroyed. What is worse is that there are those whom champion more and more government intervention, more permits on our lives. Let's ask government for permission to get married (marriage license)! I think government should tap everyone's phone and put up cameras everywhere...don't wanna feel at risk for anything. Oh, and the government should totally censor speech and press when transmitted by television or radio.

Our liberty is being stolen, and people are cheering. So afraid of the boogieman, they foolishly turn to the government for the solution. The Democrats fell to socialism and tyranny, and the Republicans weren't so far behind (though mixing in their own version of statism as well). And still people cheer. We fill out more and more forms every year, asking permission from the government to do things we should have the right to do, things which do not require government permission. We have grown too soft, we have lost our rugged individualism, we have lost our personal responsibility, and we are quickly loosing our liberty.

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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Who gets to decide if it harms anyone?

Your right to free speech does not include the right to force me to hear what you have to say.

They are cheering because they are regaining some of their liberty...by preventing people from screaming in their face.

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My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

If someone on the street corner is ranting and raving, and you happen to hear it....how have your rights been violated?

__________________
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

If they are standing somewhere where I have no choice but to walk (like outside my door), then yes. If they are standing in the middle of the street in front of my car, then yes.

You have a right to say whatever you want. You do NOT have a right to say it WHEREever you want.

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My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

How have your rights been violated?

If someone is on public land, they may say as they like. If they are on your property, you may censor them as you see fit. If there is some dude on the street corner, let's say preaching about some god or how you're going to hell and you here it; how have your rights been violated? What property of yours was usurped? What liberty of yours was taken? How was your life threatened? If life, liberty, or property is not threatened, your rights have not been violated.

I submit that merely hearing some dude (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) about random stuff outside in no way violates any of your rights. Only over sensitive socialists would think so and seek to use the government to actually and proactively censor these people.

__________________
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Bravo. I'm giving you a standing ovation.

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

When did I say my rights had been violated?

Apparently not. A courtroom is public land, but I cant go in there and scream about gay marriage any time I want to. Obviously there are limits.

If my property borders a public street, no, you cant stand outside my window with a bullhorn and scream at me. Sorry.

My rights do not have to be violated in order for it to be illegal. Not sure where you got the idea to the contrary.

Are you saying I dont have a right not to have to listen to you?

I agree. So what?

Where in the 1st Amendment does it say you have a right to speak anywhere you want?

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My Political Blog (Last post Feb 14) - My MySpace Page

It says that speech and press may not be abridged. Rights are rights, and rights do not require a government permit. People need to be free to do as they wish so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others in the process. And as freemen we need to recognize exactly what freedom and liberty means. You have no right against being offended, you have no right to not hear things while outside. You have rights to life, liberty, and property (a few of the most important rights are listed in the Bill of Rights, though it is far from a complete list of our innate and inalienable rights).

The limitations set up by We the People when we created this government were not limitations against our rights, it was limitations upon the power and scope of the government. The first amendment did not establish freedom of speech, it did not grant to us that right. That right is innate and inalienable, it was a clarification for government to know that it's hands off. There were not granted the power to abridge speech and press, and there are not conditions placed on that. It's not, Congress can not abridge speech and press...unless it's annoying to someone. It's black and white, government may not abridge speech and press; there are no loopholes there. While the Constitution did not grant any rights to We the People at all, it did grant privileges and duties to the government. It is these which the Constitution restricts, not our innate rights. The power of the government is limited, it's scope is limited; the Constitution grants on behalf of the people certain, limited powers to the government. It's not "Where does it say you can say as you like anywhere", that is a horrible horrible train of thought that will lead to nothing short of tyranny. In line with the founders would be "I have the right to free speech, and I will say as I want; where is it written that government was allowed to intercede against my rights?". Rights are not granted, and government is not the seat of power. We the People are, we created the government, and we were (*)(*)(*)(*)ed clear in the Constitution what they could and couldn't do. Anything not specifically granted to the government in the Constitution is not possessed by the government. The government may not abridge speech and press; the only time the government is authorized to intercede is if the rights of others are being infringed upon. Secure the blessings of liberty to us and posterity...that is one of the main reasons why government was created in the first place.

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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

And yet you can't yell "Fire" in a theater, and if you insist on broadcasting your message by bullhorn at midnight you can be arrested for disturbing the peace. There clearly ARE limits to our First Amendment rights, of the "your right to swing your fist ends at my nose" variety.

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Man up.